'.
Agricultural Research Center
Research Report RC-1983-9 December 1983
EVALUATION OF COMMERCIAL GRAIN SORGHUM HYBRIDS
AT ONA, 1983
R. S. Kalmbacher, D. L. Wright and F. G. Martin -
Grain sorghums (milo) produce 2 to 4 tons (60 to 120 bu/A) of grain per
acre and normally may be harvested 110 to 120 days after March see b
South Florida research has indicated that grain sorghu s te tesuited
than corn for grain production if harvest is expected i late ueo d y.
Lodging is less of a problem with grain sorghum. Grain orghum can tegt 0
lower soil moisture than corn, and in the wet summer it c .Vt r greater
soil moisture than corn. Grain sorghums will normally contain less grain
moisture at harvest than corn.
In order to determine adaptability and productivity of new grain sorghum
hybrids, which are constantly being released, it is necessary that these
hybrids be tested under south central Florida conditions. The purpose of
this publication is to present comparative data on the various grain sorghum
hybrids tested at Ona. Where trade names are used, no discrimination or
endorsement is intended.
1/ Associate Agronomist, Agricultural Research Center, Ona; Extension
Agronomist, AREC Quincy; Associate Statistician, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida.
Methods of Procedure
At the Ona Agricultural Research Center, 51 commercial grain sorghum
hybrids were seeded at 12 Ib/A in a 30" row spacing on 7 April 1983. Because
of excessive rainfall and saturated soil, the experiment was reseeded in
another location on 18 April 1983. The design of the experiment was a
randomized, complete block with 4 replications.
Fertilizer (0-150-300 lb/A of N-P205-K20, respectively), was broadcast
and disked into the seedbed at the 18 April seeding. After emergence (25
April) 90 lb/A of N was applied, and on 24 May, when plants were about 16"
tall, another 90 Ib/A of N was applied between the rows.
Weed control consisted of the post-directed application of paraquat when
plants were 12 to 15 inches tall. Furadan(R) 10 G was applied in the row at
the time of seeding at 2 Ib/A (active), primarily for mole cricket control.
'Sorghum was not sprayed for midge (Contarinia sorghicola).
A single replication was broadcast sprayed with Stimulate(R), an
"emzymatic activator solution" that contained.10% amino acids. Stimulate was
applied on 24 June when most varieties were in anthesis at the rate of 1
quart commercial product in 20 GPA water.
The experiment was irrigated by an over-head system, which applied a
total of 3.6 inches of water from 6 May to 27 May.
Results and Discussion
Grain sorghums seeded on 18 April were harvested on 18 July after a 91
day growing season. Normally (5 yr. avg.), they are seeded on 10 March and
harvest is 108 days later, but in 1983 the seeding date was delayed about 39
days from the average seeding date and the growing season was shortened by 17
days. Sorghum developed more rapidly because of higher temperatures in the
later 1983 growing season. The experiment was harvested about a week early
to avoid crop deterioration from summer rain.
There were significant differences in oven dry grain yields (Table 1).
Yield ranged from 5580 Ib/A. for Young Oro-T-Xtra to 3090 Ib/A for McCurdy M
637. Average yield was 4510 Ib/A, which was slightly lower than the 5 yr.
average of 5170 Ib/A. There was no apparent benefit resulting from the
(R)
application of Stimulate(R), and the replication which was sprayed had a
lower average yield than others.
There were no problems with lodging in the 1983 crop, but midge damage
was considered greater than normal, probably because of the late planting
date (Table 2). There appeared to be more midge damage with earlier hybrids.
Bird damage was neglible and seemed to be spread equally among hybrids
(Table 2). Savanna 5 is a bird resistant hybrid and had no bird damage.
This same experiment was ratoon-cropped after the 18 July harvest, but the
second crop was completely lost to bird depredation. The only hybrid that
remained after the other 50 were gone was Savanna 5, which was also
eventually eliminated.
Hybrids, which are ranked by maturity in table 2, ranged from 63 to 77
days from planting to anthesis. The higher yielding hybrids, like Savanna 5
and Oro-T-Xtra, were later maturing. All better yielding hybrids (Table 1)
also appeared to be taller, especially Savanna 5 and Oro-T-Xtra, which were
over 70 inches high (Table 2).
Grain moisture averaged 34% in 1983 (Table 2) which was greater than the
average 23.1% for the 108 day normal growing season. There were differences
in grain moisture with earlier hybrids like Hunt Terra HT 45G and Dekalb DK
38 being significantly lower than most others at 22%. Later maturing hybrids
contained as much as 38 to 40% grain moisture.
Disease of the stalk and leaf was very low with an average rating of 1.2
out of possible 10 (Table 2). Mildew in the head was also fairly low with an
average 1.5 out of 10. Some early hybrids tended to have more head mildew
than later hybrids.
Test results of a single year should not be used for selecting a hybrid.
Several of these hybrids were above the 5 year average yield values (Table
3). Better hybrids tested for five years at Ona are Northrup King Savanna 5,
Young Oro-T-Xtra, Fla Feed and Seed Gator Grain A, and Funks G 522 DR. Some
excellent varieties tested for only 2 to 4 years were Coker 7723, Northrup
King 2670, George Warner W 744 DR, and Pioneer 8303.
Conclusion
Fifty one commercial grain sorhgums were tested at Ona and significant
differences were found in oven-dry grain yield. The five better yielding
hybrids were Youngs Oro-T-Xtra (5580 lb/A), Texas Triumph Two 70-D (5500
lb/A), Northrup King Savanna 5 (5450 lb/A), Hunt Terra HT 128 GDR (5420
lb/A), and Funks G 611 (5400 lb/A). Based on 5 year averages, Northrup King
Savanna 5 (bird resistant), Young Oro-T-Xtra, and Fla Feed and Seed Gator
Grain A have proved to be dependable hybrids-in central Florida.
5
Table 1. Yield of grain sorghum hybrids grown at Ona ARC: 1983
Brand Hybrid Yield t
--lb/A--
Young
Texas Triumph
Northrup King
Hunt Terra
Funks
Jacques
Hunt Terra
Funks
Funks
Pioneer
Conlee
PAG
Fla. Feed and Seed
George Warner
Gold Kist"
Pioneer
Young
McCurdy
Young
PAG
George Warner
Pennington
Fla. Feed and Seed
Funks
Northrup King
George Warner
Pioneer
George Warner
Asgrow
Gold Kist
Asgrow
McCurdy
McCurdy
PAG
PAG
Gold Kist
Northrup King
Dekalb
Texas Triumph
Conlee
Dekalb
Dekalb
Northrup King
Pioneer
Hunt Terra
McCurdy
Northrup King
Dekalb
Oro-T-Xtra
Two 70-D
Savanna 5
HT 128 GDR
G 611
707
HT 126 DR
G 522
G 550
X 8071
Tophand II
4462
Gator Grain B
W 744 DR
802 G
8303
Oro-Xtra
M 990
Oro-G-Xtra
6658
W-840 DR
Penn Grain DR
Gator Grain A
G 1400
NK 2660
W 851 DR
8311
W-839 DR
H 768
GK 712 G
Opal
M 57 YG
M 737
5665
5568
552 G
NK 2779
DK 59
Two 80-D
Tophand TA
DK 38
DK 64
NK 2244
8222
HT 45 G
M 51 YG
NK 2300
DK 42 y
5580
5500
5450
5420
5400
5400
5340
5310
5290
5280
5270
5100
5100
5100
5100
5020
4950
4920
4920
4840
4830
4790
4740
4720
4500
4490
4450
4390
4370
4370
4350
4330
4280
4260
4120
4100
4060
4020
4000
3900
3830
3820
3810
3710
3640
3630
3480
3440
a+
ab
ab
abe
abc
abc
a-d
a-d
a-d
a-d
a-d
a-e
a-e
a-e
a-e
a-e
a-f
a-f
a-f
a-g
a-g
a-g
a-g
a-g
a-h
a-h
a-h
a-h
a-h
a-h
a-h
a-h
a-h
a-h
a-h
a-h
a-h
b-h
b-h
c-h
d-h
d-h
d-h
e-h
e-h
e-h
f-h
f-h
Table 1. Yield of grain sorghum hybrids grown at Ona ARC: 1983 cont.
Brand Hybrid Yield
PAG 6662 3330 gh
Funks G 1498 3120 h
McCurdy M 637 3090 h
AVERAGE 4510
SGrain yield reported at oven dry weights (140 F).
SMeans followed by the same letter are not different. (Duncan's LSD,
K=100).
Date seeded: 7 April 1983, reseeded due to excessive rain, 18 April 1983.
Seeding rate: 12 Ib/A.
Row spacing: 30".
Fertilization: 1) at the 18 April seeding, total of 0-150-300 of N-P205-K20
disked in before seeding and 90 Ib/A of N after emergence.
2) when plants were 16" tall (24 May), 90 Ib/A N applied.
Herbicide: post-directed spray paraquat at 0.25 lb/A (active).
Insecticide: Furadan 10 G applied at 2 lb/A (active) in row at seeding.
Irrigation: Over-head system applying 3.6 inches total.
Harvest date: 18 July 1983 (91 day growing season).
Table 2. Agronomic characteristics of grain sorghum hybrids grown at the Ona ARC, 1983.
Days t
to Grain Disease Bird Midge
Brand Hybrid anthesis moisture Height leaf/stalk head loss loss Color
% inches % %
Hunt Terra
SDekalb
Gold Kist
McCurdy
Funks
Asgrow
SFunks
Funks
1 George Warner
Dekalb
Conlee
Dekalb
McCurdy
Northrup King
Northrup King
Hunt Terra
George Warner
PAG
Pioneer
Young
Hunt Terra
George Warner
George Warner
Asgrow
Gold Kist
Northrup King
PAG
Pennington
Texas Triumph
Funks
Gold Kist
PAG
Pioneer
HT 45 A
DK 38
552 G
M 637
G 1400
H 768
G 550
G 1498
W 840 DR
DK 64
Tophand TA
DK 42 y
M 51 YG
NK 2244
NK 2779
HT 128 GDR
W 851 DR
6658
8311
Oro-Xtra
HT 126 DR
W 744 DR
W 839 DR
Opal
712 G
NK 2300
4462
Penn Grain DR
Two 70-D
G 611
802 G
5665
8071
22
22
29
S 29
30
27
28
38
29
31
36
35
31
30
35
34
37
35
33
35
34
35
36
33
34
30
38
34
35
35
33
38
33
a
a
b-e
b-e
b-f
b
bc
m-p
b-d
c-h
j-o
h-o
c-i
b-g
i-o
h-o
J-p
j-o
d-j
h-o
g-o
h-o
j-o
f-1
8-o
b-g
n-p
g-m
i-o
i-o
e-k
n-p
e-k
1.7
1.8
1.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.5
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.8
1.0
1.3
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.0
1.5
1.3
1.0
2.0
1.0
2.3
3.5
3.0
2.7
1.5
1.8
2.0
2.0
1.8
2.0
1.5
1.0
2.5
1.7
2.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.5
1.0
1.3
1.3
1.8
1.3
1.0
1.8
0.5
1.3
1.0
1.0
1.5
1.0
0.8
Rd-Tn
Tn
Br
Tn
Rd-Tn
Br
W
Br
Tn
Tn
W
Cr
Cr-Tn
Tn
Cr-Tn
Tn
Tn
Cr-Tn
Lt-Tn
Lt-Tn
Lt-Tn
Tn
Tn
Lt-Tn
Cr-Tn
Cr-Tn
Cr-Rd
Cr-Tn
Lt-Tn
Lt-Tn
Tn
Lt-Tn
Rd-Tn
Table 2. Agronomic characteristics of grain sorghum hybrids grown at the Ona ARC, 1983 cont.
Days
to Grain Disease Bird Midge
Brand Hybrid anthesis moisture Height leaf/stalk head loss loss Color
% inches % %
Pioneer 8222 72 36 j-o 51 1.3 1.3 2 2 Rd-Tn
Young Oro-T-Xtra 72 34 g-n 70 1.8 1.5 2 2 Lt-Tn
Conlee Tophand II 73 35 h-o 55 1.0 1.5 2 3 Cr-Tn
McCurdy M 57 YG 73 38 m-p 61 1.0 1.3 3 3 Tn
PAG 5568 73 33 d-k 64 1.3 1.3 1 .2 Tn-Rd
Fla Feed & Seed Gator Grain A 74 37 k-p 54 1.0 1.8 2 4 Cr-Tn
Fla Feed & Seed Gator Grain B 74 36 j-o 53 1.0 1.5 2 4 Cr-Tn
McCurdy M 737 74 38 m-p 49 1.0 1.0 2 2 Cr-Tn
Pioneer 8303 74 34 g-m 63 1.0 1.3 3 2 Lt-Tn
Youngs Oro-G-Xtra 74 34 g-o 58 1.3 1.3 2 3 Lt-Tn
Texas Triumph Two 80-D 74 37 k-p 61 1.0 2.0 1 7 Lt-Tn
Funks G 522 74 36 j-o 56 1.0 1.5 1 2 Gr-Tn
McCurdy M 990 75 36 j-o 53 1.0 1.5 2 3 Cr-Tn
Northrup King Savanna 5 75 35 j-o 72 1.8 0.3 0 1 Rd-Tn
Jacques 707 76 41 p 69 1.0 1.5 2 7 Gr
Northrup King NK 2660 76 36 j-o .53 1.0 2.3 3 5 Cr-Tn
PAG 662 76 38 1-p 57 1.3 1.8 2 8 Cr-Tn
Dekalb DK 59 77 38 o-p 59 1.0 1.5 2 3 Cr-Tn
Average 71 34 57 1.2 1.5. 2 5
Disease rated on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 = little or none, 10 = 100% loss.
Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different (Duncan's LSD,
rounding, slight inconsistencies in Duncan's letters resulted.
K = 100). Due to
Colors: Rd = red, Tn = tan, Br = brown, W = white, Cr = cream, Lt = light, Gr = green.
9
Table 3. Average grain sorghum yields from hybrids grown at the Ona ARC:
1979-1983.
Year
Brand Hybrid 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 Avg.
---------------lb/AT.-------------------
Grown for 5 years: 1979-1983
Northrup King
Young
Fla Feed & Seed
Funks
Pioneer
Average
Savanna 5
Oro-T-Xtra
Gator Grain A
G 522 DR
8311
9620
8860
6400
7440
6760
7820
6690
7210
5610
5110
6100
6140
7320
7060
6420
2920
3700
5480
6920
3630
5180
4520
5520
5150
' 5450
5580
4740
5310
4450
5100
7200
6470
5670
5060
4420
5760
5 yr avg = 4510
Grown for 4 years 1979-1982
Coker
Northrup King
Young
Coker
Funks
Dekalb
Average
7723
2670
Oro-G-Xtra
7675
G 550
DK 64
Grown for 2 years
1982 and 1983
George Warner
Pioneer
Texas Triumph
Hunt Terra
Hunt Terra
McCurdy
Texas Triumph
Hunt Terra
George Warner
George Warner
McCurdy
Hunt Terra
McCurdy
McCurdy
Average
W 744 DR
8303
Two 70-D
HT 128 GDR
HT 126 BR
M 990
Two 80-D
HT 45 G
W 839 DR
W 851 DR
M 57 YG
HT 45 G
M 737
M 637
6920
5800
4920
4740
4710
4710
5490
5560
4570
4280
4310
2700
980
1560
4380
5100
5020
5500
5420
5340
4920
4000
3640
4390
4490
4330
4639
4280
3090
4580
6010
5410
5210
5080
5030
4820
4750
4600
4480
4390
4320
3670
2630
2330
4480
5 yr avg = 451C
t Grain yields reported at oven-dry weights (140 F).
Seeding dates: 3-70-79; 3-6-80; 3-10-81; 3-5-82; 4-18-83.
9400
8510
8600
8840
5930
7620
6640
5530
5820
6490
6340
6240
4960
6270
4440
3520
4670
5020
5540
4620
5170
4310
6030
4860
5090
6780
6200
5750
5720
5170
4960
5760
4920
5290
3820
4680
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not reflect current scientific knowledge
or recommendations. These texts
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record of the Institute for Food and
Agricultural Sciences and should be
used only to trace the historic work of
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(EDIS)
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